Corn-harvesting machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

G. K. GONNER. GORN HARVESTING MAGHINE.

N0. 521,10I'. Patented June 5, 1894.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. K. GONNER. 001m HARVESTING MACHINE.

No. 521,101. Patented June 5,1894.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

0. K. GONNER. CORN HARVESTING MACHINE,

Np. 521,101. Patented-Junefi, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT O FICE.

oHARLEs K. OONNER, on NEW PHILADELPHIA, ILLINOIS.

CORN-HARVESTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,101, dated June 5, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. CONNER, of New Philadelphia, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Corn-Harvesting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-harvesting-machines, the objects in view being the production of a cheap, simple, and efficient machine of this class adapted to harvest standing corn and separate the ears from the stalks, husking the ears, and chopping or disintegrating the stalks for producing fodder and separately delivering the same.

With these general objects in view, and other minor objects not herein specified, the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:-Figure 1 is a plan View of a harvester embodying my invention, the top mechanism being removed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the harvester. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig.4is a vertical transverse sectional View. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view throngh the ear and stalk-separating rolls. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View through the ear and stalk separating rolls. Fig. 7 is a detail of the slotted fapron employed between the upper end of the elevator and the separating rolls. Fig. Sis a detail in perspective of a portion of one of the elevator channels and its chain; and Fig. 9 is an elevation of the cutting rolls.

Fig. 10 is a cross section of the husking rolls.

Fig. 11 is a plan view'of 'a portion of the husking-rolls.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the practice of my invention I employ an oblong framework consisting of front and rear side-beams 1 and 2, respectively, and opposite end-beams 3 and 4. The front and rear beams 1 and 2 are connected at each side of their centerby pairs of transverse connecting-beams 5 and these in turn are connected by short beams 6. Adraft-tongue7 is located at the front end of the machine and connected to the beam 1, and is braced by hounds 8, as is usual. A transverse main axle 9 is journaled in bearings in the two adjacent beams 5 at the center of the machine, and a ground- Application tiled April 6, 1891. Saria1No.387,'851. (N0 model.)

wheel ltlrevolvestherewith. .The axle 9 is further provided with a spur gear 11 at one side of the machine, and it engages with and drives a similar gear 12 mounted on a short shaft 13 journaled in the beams 5 and similarly disposed with the axle. This shaft 13 is further provided with a large beveled gear 14, whichengages with small beveled gears 15 and 16, the samebeing mounted on the inner ends of front and rear shafts 17 and 18 respectively, which are j ournaled in' the short transverse beams 6 and the front and rear beams l and 2 and project beyond the latter two beams. ries a sprocket-wheel 19, and a disk 20, the latter having a wrist-pin 21, and being connected to a pitman-rod 22, which operates a knife 23 in the finger-bar 24 that is located at the right side of the machine and at the front thereof. The rear end of the shaft 18 carries a sprocket-wheel 25.

From the front of the framework there project extensions 26 at each end of the cutting-mechanism, and at the front and rear ends of these extensions vertical shafts 27 are located. These shafts 27 carry sprocketwheels 28 at their upper and lower ends, or each shaft may carry only a single sprocketwheel, as desired; but in either instance the front sprocket-wheels 28 are connected to the rear sprocket wheels 28 by means of endless sprocket-chains 29 which carry gatheringfingers 30 at intervals. The lower ends of the inner shafts .27 are provided with beveled gears 31, each of which is engaged by a beveled gear 32 mounted on the front ends of horizontal rearwardly disposed shafts 33. These in turn at their rear ends are provided with beveled gears 34 which are engaged and operated by beveled gears 35 located upon a transverse shaft 36 located at the right side of the machine and which supports and is revolved with the grain-wheel 37. Between the beams 5 at the left side of the machine, there is journaled in the beams 1 and 2 a shaft 38, and the same projects at its rear end beyond the rear beam 2 and carries a sprocket-wheel 39. Between its ends the shaft 38 is provided with front and rear beveled gears 40.

Rising from the front and rea'r'crossbars 1 The shaft 17 at its front end carand 2 is a pair of vertical 'standards'fl43, the

same being provided at their left sides with horizontal arms 44 and at their right sides with upper and lower horizontal arms 45 and 46. In the horizontal arms 45 a transverse shaft 47 is journaled and the same carries a series of sprocket-wheels 48 between its ends and at its rear end a smaller sprocket 49.

In suitable hearings in the front and rear beams l and 2 horizontal shafts 50 and 51 are journaled, the two shafts being provided at their rear ends with sprocket-wheels 52 and 53 respectively, the former sprocket 52 being a twin sprocket. The outer sprocket of the twin is connected with the sprocket wheel 53 by chain 54, and this serves as an endless belt or apron which is moved over the platform 56. Upon the shaft 50 there is located a series of sprocket wheels 57, the same corresponding with the sprocket-wheels 48 of the upper shaft 47 and being connected therewith by chains 58. Each chain 58 moves in a channel or trough 59, and has every other link provided with a pair of hinged arms 60. The links of the chain are about the same width as the troughs, and said troughs have thelower ends of their sides rounded to form cameportions 61, so that as each pair of arms contact with the sides of the trough they are swung upward to assume vertical positions, and project above the upper edges of the troughs and hence convey the stalks as they are severed and delivered upon the apron up to a. point about opposite the sprocket-wheels 48, at which point they being released by passing beyond the troughs swing outward and assume horizontal positions. In the arm 46, that is. below the arm 45 of the standards, a shaft 62 is located, and the same carries idle sprocket-wheels 63 around which the said chains 58 are run.

A pair of horizontal parallel shafts 63' and 64 are journaled in the standards 43, and a, similar shaft 65 is journaled above the same. This shaft 65 carries a pair of pressure-rollers 66 and the shaft 63' carries a cutting-roll 67.

The cutting-roll 67 is provided with a series of longitudinally disposed slots 68, and each pair of radially opposite slots is connected at its ends by radial rods 69 which are attached at their outer ends to a series of longitudinally disposed beveled cutting blades 70. These rods 69 are curved between their ends to avoid the shaft 63', and in length slightly exceed the diameter of the rolls, so that as one of their ends comes in contact with the pressure-roll 66, the lower end, together with the knife, to which it is attached is forced downward and passes into corresponding slots -,71 formed in the roll 72 that is carried by the shaft 64. The front ends of the shafts 63 and 64 are provided with spur-gears 72' that intermesh, so that the two rolls revolve together and toward each other and the shaft 63 is further provided with an inner small sprocket 73 and an outer large sprocket 74, the latter being connected by means of a chain 75 to the sproeket-wheel 19 at the front of the machine. In the opposite arms 44 there is journaled a pair of shafts 76 and 77 carrying rolls 78 and 79 respectively, the latter being preferably formed of'wood or other substance that will not injure the cutting edges of the knives hereinafter described. The roll 78 carries aseries of circular knives 80 whose peripheries contact with and operate against the roll 79. These shafts 76 and 77 are connected at their front sides with intermeshing supporting gears 81, and the shaft 67 is further provided with a small sprocket 82, which by means of a chain 83, is engaged with and operated by the sprocket-wheel 73 mounted on the shaft 63.

In inclined bearings located at the left of the machine below the arms 44 there is located a pair of shafts 84, and the said shafts carry bushing-rolls 85. These husking rolls maybe constructed in any suitable manner, but in the present instance one of the rolls is provided with a series of depressions 86 and the other with a series of annular grooves 87. In each of the latter grooves a belt 88 is lo cated, and from the same teeth 89 extend. The spaces between the belts are provided with longi tudinal grooves 90. Below the rolls an inclined chute 91 is located, and above the rolls and leading thereto from a pointbctween the rolls 78 and 79 a hopper 92 is located.

Between the sprocket wheels 48, and the roll 72 there is located an inclined slotted apron 93. The sprocket wheels 39, 25, and '49 are connected by means of a sprocket-chain 94, whereby motion is conveyed from the axle 9 to these parts.

Having described the construction of my invention, I will now proceed to describe the operation thereof.

The stalks are gathered in by gatheringchains and their arms in the usual manner, and are subjected to the action of the cutter, and, as severed fall back upon the carrierchains 54, which delivers them to the endless chains or carriers 58. Here they are caught by the arms 60 and elevated to apoint above 5 the sprocket-wheels 48, and over said wheels 'they move until they fall upon the inclined slotted apron 93. They are then caught by the roll 68 and the ears are by the knives 7O severed from the stalks, the ears falling back upon the apron 93 and through the slots therein into a hopper, from which they are delivered to the bushing-rolls 85. Here the husks are torn from the ears and pass through the rolls on to the inclined chute 91,,the ears passing on down the rolls and being delivered off the ends of the same. The stalks after being severed from the ears pass on between the rolls 67 and 72 and fall between the rolls 78 and 79, where they are cut into suitable lengths by the circular cutters carried by the rolls 78. Passing through these rolls they drop upon the inclined table 95, which is located above the husking-rolls, and fall down the same into a suitable receptacle, which is preferably the same one in which the husks fall, so that they, with the-husks, may be used as fodder.

It will be seen that the machine is of simple construction compared with other machines of this class, and is adapted to be effectually operated for the purpose in view.

Changes in the details of the construction of my invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in this class of machines, and to the same I do not limit myself.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a corn harvester,the combination with suitable harvesting and elevating mechanism, of a pair of rolls arranged in rear of said elevating mechanism, means for operating the rolls, slots formed in the lower rolls, slots formed in the upper rolls, radial rods arranged in and connecting the slots of one of the rolls and projecting beyond the latter, knives carried by the rods, and an upper pressure roll, substantially as specified.

2. In a corn harvester,the combination with cutting and elevating mechanisms, of a pair of vertically opposite parallel shafts, rolls carried by the shafts, slots formed in the lower roll, slots formed in the upper roll, radial rods arranged in the ends of the slots of the upper roll, longitudinally disposed knives arranged in the slots and connected to the rods, and devices arranged above the upper roll and adapted to depress the rods through the bottom slots, substantially as specified.

3. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the cutting, operating mechanism, of a pair of inclined husking rolls, one of which is provided with longitudinal grooves, and the other of which is longitudinally grooved and at intervals annularly grooved, belts arranged in the latter grooves, and teeth extending from the belts, substantially as specified.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combinationwith the framework, the cutting mechanism arranged in advance thereof, the endless carrier supported in rear of the cutting-mechanism, the inclined carrier arranged at the side of the endless carrier, and means for operating these carriers, of standards arranged at the side of the inclined carrier, pairs of separating rolls arranged in the standards, an intermediate slotted apron between the upper end of the inclined carrier and the under side of the lower cutting rolls, husking-rolls arranged at one side of the cutting-rolls,conveying devices between the slotted apron and the husking-rolls, means for operating the husking-rolls, and conveying devices leading from the cutting-rolls, substantially as specified.

5. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the frame work, the cutting and delivering mechanisms, and means for operating said mechanisms, of standards arranged at the side of the delivering mechanisms, separating rolls arranged in said standards adjacent to the upper end of the delivery mechanism, an inclined slotted apron arranged between the delivering mechanism and the lower side of the separating mechanism, a pair of inclined husking-rolls, an intermediate conveying device between the apron and the rolls, a pair of superimposed cutting rolls, and means for operating said rolls, substantially as specified.

CHARLES K. GONNER.

WVitnesses:

T. J. PRICE, MARTIN PRICE. 

